Solid Waste

Which played an important role in the development of the throw away society?

• The increased use of glass and metals

• Objects made of many materials

• attitude changes after World War I

• The shift in manufacturing to developing nations

• The rejection of planned obsolesces

On average how much municipal solid waste is generated per person each day in the US?

• 0.1 kg

• 0.5 kg

• 1 kg

• 2 kg

• 5 kg

The material that makes up the highest proportion of MSW is?

• plastic

• rubber, leather and textiles

• paper and paperboard

• food

• metals

Electronic waste

• accounts for over 10 percent of the waste stream

• is almost always recycled

• is only a problem in developed nations

• contains few toxic components

• is more expensive to recycle than to put in a landfill

Approximately how much MSW is recovered before it enters a landfill or incinerator?

• 15%

• 20%

• 35%

• 45%

• 60%

The correct order of the 3 Rs is

• Reduce, Recycle and Reuse

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Recycle, Reuse, Reduce

• Recycle, Reduce, Reuse

• Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

Which is NOT a form of source reduction?

• Printing double sided instead of single sided

• Purchasing the digital form of music instead of CDs

• Replacing plastic mugs with disposable paper cups

• Substituting a nontoxic material for something toxic

• Designing a smaller box for packaging

Which material usually uses closed-loop recycling?

• Aluminum

• glass

• paper

• cardboard

• plastic

organic matter in landfills is a problem primarily because?

• there is a high risk of toxic leaching

• it contains bacteria that spreads disease

• as it breaks down it can dissolve the containment

• it produces excessive heat

• it produces methane gas

For composting to work effectively, the compost

• must be kept very wet

• must be mixed

• must be anaerobic

• must be protected from high temperatures

• must contain more nitrogen than carbon